The cost of teenagers who end up in prison

This fact is contained in a report released by CYF yesterday:

"The estimated cost to society of the one percent of teenagers who end up in prison is around $3 million each over their lifespan."

There are very roughly 420,000 13-19 year-olds.

4,200 end up in prison.

At a cost of $12.6 billion.

I imagine the cost is based on youth and justice services, policing, incarceration, benefits. The time they spend locked up or on a benefit will probably span decades so $3 million looks entirely reasonable.

And this largely male group will father more offspring than average adding to the next generation of criminality and costs.